OBJECTIVETo establish a new rat model of chronic cyclosporine A nephrotoxicity and explore its features.

METHODSTotally 24 male SD rats were equally randomized divided into 3 groups: sham-adrenalectomized (sham-ADX) group, ADX group and ADX plus cyclosporine A (CsA) group. Rats in ADX and CsA group first underwent adrenalectomy, followed by the administration of placebo or dexamethasone, respectively. Rats in sham-ADX group received sham adrenalectomy and distilled water as control. Six weeks later, all rats were sacrificed and the following indicators were evaluated: urine protein excretion, creatinine clearance, aldosterone level in serum and urine, aldosterone level and its synthase CYP11B2 gene expression in kidney, serum natrium and potassium, urine natrium and potassium excretion, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis by masson trichrome stain.

RESULTSIn ADX and CsA group, serum and urine aldosterone were undetectable on the second post-operative day, with other observations including natriuresis, hyponatremia, decreased urine potassium excretion, and hyperpotassemia, suggesting that adrenals were removed intact and the adrenalectomy was successful. Rats in CsA group showed increased urine protein, decreased creatinine clearance and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, suggesting that a model of chronic CsA nephrotoxicity was successfully established. At the endpoint, serum potassium, serum aldosterone, urine potassium and urine aldosterone excretion partially retrieved. Natrium in serum and urine was not significant different between ADX group/CsA group and sham-ADX group. Local renal aldosterone and its gene expression were remarkably upregulated.

CONCLUSIONSWe successfully established a new rat model of chronic CsA nephrotoxicity by adrenalectomy without low sodium diet. After adrenalectomy, local renal aldosterone in kidney may compensate for circulatory aldosterone deficit to maintain electrolyte balance.

Acute Kidney Injury ; chemically induced ; Adrenalectomy ; Aldosterone ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclosporine ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; toxicity ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explore the clinical signiifcance of combined detection of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxin (FT4) in dried blood spots in screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in neonates. Methods The TSH and FT4 levels in dried blood spot were measured by time-resolved lfuorescence immunity in live born neonates from June to December 2013. If the screening was positive, the blood was drawn and the serum TSH and FT4 were measured and compared with the results from dried blood spots. Results In a total of 31 199 neonates screened, 12 cases were diagnosed with CH and the prevalence rate of CH was 1/2 600;4 cases were hyperthyropinemia and no pituitary CH was detected. There was no signiifcant difference between TSH or FT4 levels in dried blood spot and those in serum in neonates diagnosed with CH (P>0.05). Conclusions Combined detection of TSH and FT4 in dried blood spot can be used for neonatal screening of CH. It can be applied for early distinguishing CH from hyperthyropinemia, and also helpful for early diagnosis and treatment of central CH.

OBJECTIVE:To extract the feature of Achyranthes bidentata and Cyathula officinalis,and to establish image recog-nition method. METHODS:The microscopic image stitching of A. bidentata and C. officinalis was implemented by MATLAB. The color,invariant moment,stripes and the features of vascular bundle in cross section were extracted. The data was organized into da-ta matrix,and then data matrix was standardized by Zscore function;principal components were analyzed through Princomp func-tion. BP nerve network recognition mode was adopted. RESULTS:The microstructures in the micro images of the samples were kept integrated. The measured data of 27 characteristics were acquired in each group of sample. Through principal component analy-sis,the parameters of 11 main components were selected to establish BP never network. The average recognition rate of BP nerve network was 100% between 2 medicinal material relatives (n=50). CONCLUSIONS:The method can be used for micro-image auto Stitching of Chinese medicinal materials and image recognition of A. bidentata and C. officinalis.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of MRI in brachial plexus injury.Methods Total 98 patients with brachial plexus injury were examined by MRI before operation.Fifty-four of 98 patients MR imaging were obtained by 0.5 Tesla scanner and other 44 patients were obtained by 1.5 Tesla scanner.The scanning sequences include: SE T_1WI,T_2WI,FFE T_2WI and T_2WI SPIR. Exploration of the supraclavicular plexus was carried out and the MR imaging were compared with the operative finding in 63 patients.Thirty-five patients who had not surgery were followed-up.Results MR imaging found pre-ganglionic injuries in 45 patients and post-ganglionic injuries in 56 patients.Pre-and post-ganglionic injuries simultaneously in 16 patients among them.MR imaging can not find injury sings in 13 patients.The positive rate was 86.73%.MR imaging finding of pre-ganglionic injuries include:(1) Spinal cord edema and hemorrhage,2 patients (4.44% ).(2)Displacement of spinal cord,17 patients (37.78%).(3)Traumatic meningoceles,37 patients (82.22%).(4)Absence of roots in spinal canal, 25 patients(55.56% ).(5)Scarring in the spinal cnanl,24 patients (53.33%).(6)Denervation of erector spine,13 patients (28.89%).MR imaging finding of post-ganglionic injuries include:(1)Trunk thickening with hypointensities in T_2WI,23 patients (41.07%).(2)Nerve trunk complete loss of continuity with disappeared of nerve structure,16 patients (28.57%).(3)Continuity of nerve trunk was well with disappearance of nerve structure,14 patients(25.00%).(4)Traumatic neurofibroma,3 patients (5.36%).Conclusion MR imaging can reveal Pre-and post-ganglionic injuries of brachial plexus simultaneously.MR imaging is able to determine the location (pre-or post-ganglionic)and extent of brachial plexus injury,provided important information for treatment method selection.

Objective To improve recognition and imaging diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cyst secondary to a giant cell tumor.Methods To collect the dates of 12 patients with aneurysmal bone cyst secondary to a giant cell tumor were proved by operation and pathology from January 2003 to October 2006. Analyzed and summarized their imaging manifestations and correlation with pathohistology.Results Six lesions were located in epiphysis and metaphysic regions of long bone.Six lesions were located in pelvis.All cases showed a cystic lesion with expanded and osteolytic,eccentric 10 cases and centric 2 cases.Four cases display trabeculate,the margin is well define with a rim of bone sclerosis in 2 cases.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scans were available in 10 patients.All case showed cystic,dilated lesions with solid areas. Eight cases manifested single or multitude solid nodules in big cystic wall.Two cases appeared solid masses with multitude cysts.The sign of multitude fluid-fluid level,best seen on T_2-weighted images,was present in all patients.Seven cases emerged soft-tissue masses.MR found indicative of large amounts of hemosiderin in one cases.Eight cases were examined by spiral CT with plain scanning and enhancement scanning. Reconstructed image were CTA and 3D-MPR(three dimensions multiplanar reconstruction)imaging.All cases showed cystic,dilated lesions with solid areas.The sign of multitude fluid-fluid level was present in 6 patients.The solid areas and cystic-wall of lesions showed contrast enhancement in 8 patients.3D-MPR imaging showed supply blood vessel of tumors in 3 cases.Arteriovenous malformation did not found in all patients.The surgeons'operative findings and the gross specimens were studied in all patients.All lesions were composed of solid areas and cystic areas.The diagnosis of pathology were ABC with GCT(grade Ⅱ)in 10 cases and ABC with GCT(grade Ⅲ).Conclusion Aneurysmai bone cyst secondary to a giant cell tumor is not rare.Adequately recognizing the pathologic basis of ABC,and selecting imaging techniques correctly (X-ray and MRI,or X-ray and CT)is especially important to diagnose a giant-cell tumor with secondary aneurysmai bone cyst.When an eccentric,expanded,lytic tumor with a cystic-solid lesion in epiphysis of long bone or pelvis shows multiple fluid levels,a giant-cell tumor with secondary aneurysmai bone cyst components should be sufficiently considered.

OBJECTIVE The present study was aimed to investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin sig-naling in spinal VGLUT2 regulation and neuropathic pain. METHODS To elucidate the association be-tween VGLUT2 and neuropathic pain,we determined the expression and distribution characteristics of VGLUT2 in mice subjected to spared nerve injury(SNI),and then observed the effects of two VGLUT2 targeting shRNAs on mechanical allodynia and glutamate release.The effects of Wnt/β-catenin signal-ing on VGLUT2 expression and pain behavior were investigated by using Wnt agonist,Wnt1,and Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor XAV939 in SNI mice.RESULTS SNI surgery induced significant up-regula-tion of VGLUT2 on postoperative days 7,14,and 21.Double immunofluorescence labeling of VGLUT2 with NeuN,MAP2,Iba-1,or GFAP showed that VGLUT2 was mainly expressed in neurons in the dor-sal horn of the spinal cord after SNI(NeuN,MAP2).Intrathecal administration of VGLUT2 shRNAs be-fore or after SNI surgery significantly decreased mechanical allodynia and glutamate release. Mean-while,Wnt1/β-catenin signaling increased significantly after SNI surgery.Over-expression of β-catenin in PC12 cells increased VGLUT2 protein level,intrathecal administration of Wnt agonist or Wnt1 signifi-cantly increased VGLUT2 protein expression in spinal cord, while Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor XAV939 decreased VGLUT2 expression in PC12 cells and spinal cord.Additionally,intrathecal admin-istration of XAV939 7 days after SNI significantly attenuated mechanical allodynia in mice, which was in accordance with down-regulation of VGLUT2 protein levels.VGLUT2 shRNAs significantly attenuat-ed Wnt agonist or Wnt1 induced mechanical allodynia. CONCLUSION Wnt1/β-catenin signaling path-way up-regu-lates the spinal VGLUT2 expression,and this regulation is involved in neuropathic pain behavior.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus MOTOmed intelligent motor training in treating children with spastic cerebral palsy, and analyze the effects on lower limb motor function, intelligence development level, immune function and cerebral hemodynamics.Methods: A total of 42 children with spastic cerebral palsy were selected as the observation objects, and enrolled into the observation group. Another 42 cases treated in the same period were selected as the control group. Both groups received MOTOmed intelligent motor training, and the observation group was given additional acupuncture therapy, and the control group was given additional conventional rehabilitation treatment. After 2 consecutive treatment courses, the psychomotor development index (PDI) and mental development index (MDI) of Children's Developmental Center of China (CDCC) scale, the scores of gross motor function measure (GMFM) scale and modified Ashworth scale (MAS), and the changes in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ were observed. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) and mean flow velocity (MFV) of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) were observed and measured. The clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results: Compared with the same group before treatment, the scores of GMFM, PDI and MDI, levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+, PSV and MFV levels of ACA, MCA and PCA in both groups were significantly increased after treatment (all P<0.05), while the CD8+ level had no significant change (both P>0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate of lower limb spasm in the observation group was 90.5％, significantly higher than 71.4％ in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of GMFM, PDI and MDI, the levels of CD3+ and CD4+, PSV and MFV, and the levels of ACA, MCA and PCA in the observation group were all significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the CD8+ level and CD4+/CD8+ between the groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture plus MOTOmed intelligent motor training has a better clinical efficacy than conventional rehabilitation plus MOTOmed intelligent motor training in treating children with spastic cerebral palsy, and is also superior in improving lower limb motor function and the level of intellectual development. And the mechanism may be related to the improvement of cerebral hemodynamics.

AIMTo investigate antimalarial mechanism of Qinghaosu ( QHS) and its derivatives.

METHODSThe electronic structure of QHS and its derivatives were completely optimized and calculated at B3LYP/6-31G * level, while the route was at HF/STO-3G level.

RESULTSThe peroxide bridge is the active center of QHS and induced by ferrous iron to produce cyclic product.

CONCLUSIONHeme can link with QHS derivatives.

Antimalarials ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Artemisinins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Electron Transport ; Free Radicals ; chemistry ; Heme ; chemistry ; Models, Chemical ; Peroxides ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quantum Theory

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Toll-like receptor in intestinal mucosal injury induced by Cryptospo-ridium parvum infection in mice.Methods Totally 30 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a normal control group,1-week infection group and 2-week infection group.The mice of the 1-week and 2-week infection groups were sacrificed 7 days and 14 days after the infection respectively,and the mice of the normal control group were sacrificed 14 days after the infection.The model of intestinal infection of C.parvum in mice was built by using the immunosuppressive method and oocyst intragastric ad-ministration.The pathological changes of the intestinal mucosa of mice were observed with a light microscope and the villus height,crypt depth and ratio of villus height/crypt depth were measured.The ultrastructure of the intestinal mucosa of mice was observed by a transmission electron microscope(TEM).The expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 in the intestinal mucosa were tested by qPCR and Western blotting.Results Under the light microscope,the intestinal villi were dropsical,obviously atrophied and shortened,and the submucosal structure was dropsical.The height of chorionic villi and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum of the 1-week and 2-week infection groups were significantly lower than those in the normal control group(all P<0.05),while the depth of the recess of the former two was significantly increased(all P<0.05).With the extension of the infection time,the villus height and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum of mice decreased significantly(both P<0.05),and the crypt depth increased significantly(P<0.01).The TEM observation showed that the structure of the oocyst of C.parvum in the jejunum of the infected mouse was intact,the villi around the oocyst were abscission seriously,and the oocyst wall was fused with the epithelial cell membrane.The qPCR observation showed that compared with the normal control group,the expressions of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA in the intestinal mucosa of the 1-week and 2-week infection groups were significantly higher(all P<0.05).In addition,the expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA in the 2-week infection group were significantly higher than those in the 1-week infection group(both P<0.05).The Western blotting showed that the expres-sions of TLR2 protein and TLR4 protein in the intestinal mucosa of the 1-week and 2-week infection groups were significantly higher than those of the normal control group(all P<0.05).Furthermore,the expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 protein in the 2-week infection group were significantly higher than those in the 1-week infection group(both P<0.05).Conclusions TLR2 and TLR4 are important receptors for intestinal mucosal recognition of C.parvum.The C.parvum infection may lead to intestinal mucosal damage possibly via the mechanisms associated with the up-regulation of TLR2 and TLR4 expressions.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the changes of diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)and the clinical stages in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods One hundred and seven patients with cerebral infarction were chosen to perform conventional MRI and DTI,respectively.With double-blind method,the signal intensity of fractional anisotropy(FA)and isotropic apparent diffusion coefficient(ADCiso)in responsible to infraction regions was observed and based on their results,the relationships between the changes of DTI and the clinical stages were analyzed. Results In 29 cases of cerebral infarction in acute stage,10 were manifested as type I(hypointensity on ADCiso map,hyperintensity on FA map)and type Ⅱ(hypointensity on ADCiso map and FA map with hyper intensive circumference)on DTI;3 were manifested as type Ⅲ on DTI(iso-/Paypo-intensity on ADCiso map and FA map with normal circumference);6 were manifested as type Ⅳ on DTI(hyperintensity on ADCiso map,hypointensity on FA map).In 34 cases of cerebral infarction in sub-acute stage,2 were manifested astype Ⅰ on DTI;20 were manifested astype Ⅱ;8 were manifested as type Ⅲ and 4 were manifested as type IV.In 44 cases of cerebral infarction chronic stage.1 Was manifested as type Ⅱ on DTI;2 were manifested as type Ⅲ and 41 were manifested as type IV.Positive correlation was found between changes of DTI and clinical stages(r=0.693,P=0.000). Conclusion The intensity of infraction on DTI can directly demonstrate the clinical stages,providing precise evidence for classifying the stages of cerebral infarction.